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Glite Dictionary
🗿 To put on base ⬇️ To degrade
to embase

to embase

9.9
To lower a person's rank, status, or moral character
  • verb
  • /ɪmˈbeɪs/
  • Archaic
: degradar
  • The scandal will embase his reputation.

Examples

  • In the old tale, the hero refused to embase himself by betraying his friends.

  • Writers sometimes embase their characters to show the effects of pride and downfall.

  • The king's enemies sought to embase his reputation through false accusations.

  • How could they embase such a great leader?

  • In the old tale, the hero refused to embase himself by betraying his friends.

  • The king's enemies sought to embase his reputation through false accusations.

  • Writers sometimes embase their characters to demonstrate the consequences of moral failure.

Synonyms

to downgrade
vsto embase
53 4.9

To make something lower in rank, value or importance

lowers moral character or standing rather than merely changing rank
to degrade
vsto embase
29 5.1

To treat someone so they feel ashamed or less respected

lowers rank or moral standing specifically by causing loss of dignity
to relegate
vsto embase
28 6.8

Move someone to a lower job or position as punishment

lowers personal worth or moral standing not just changes of position
to devalue
vsto embase
19 5.0

To make something seem less important or respected

lowers status or moral character rather than only economic worth
to debase
vsto embase
5 6.9

To make something worth less by adding cheaper material

lowers rank, status, or moral character rather than only value

Antonyms

to elevate
  • Formal
22 4.4

To give someone a higher job or rank

How Degrading

to humiliate
  • Offensive
208 6.1
to embase
  • Archaic
9.9
to demean
43 6.8
to debase
10 7.7

Surface Forms

embase infinitive
embased past
embased past participle
embasing present participle
embases third person singular

Morphology

embase = base (semi-transparent) = em + base

The form is clearly em- + base, but the sense 'degrade' depends on a figurative extension of base rather than a fully literal modern reading.

Etymology

Embase comes from the parts em- ('in') and base ('low' or 'foundation'), the same simple 'base' you see in basement. So to embase someone is to make them feel low or less respected.